Spirit blank Dash in NWSL Challenge Cup match
Bayley Feist scores lone goal for Washington
Bayley Feist scored early and the Washington Spirit held off the Houston Dash for a 1-0 victory on Sunday in the National Women's Soccer League's Challenge Cup.
Feist grabbed a pass from Ashley Hatch and scored from atop the penalty area in the 16th minute at Zions Bank Stadium.
Rachel Daly had a good chance for the Dash in the final minutes of the opening half, but her angled shot hit the far corner of the crossbar. Daly and teammate Shea Groom each had two goals going into the match.
The Spirit did not play U.S. national team star Rose Lavelle. The team lost midfielder Andi Sullivan early in the second half when she had to be helped off the field with an apparent injury.
WATCH | Bayley Feist scores the game-winning goal for the Spirit:
With the win, the Spirit move into second place in the standings behind the North Carolina Courage.
It was the final group match for both teams, which had identical 1-1-1 records going in. The seeding for the knockout stage will be determined by Sunday and Monday's matches.
The Chicago Red Stars were set to play the Utah Royals in Sunday's late match.
All eight teams playing in the Challenge Cup advance to the quarterfinals. The league's ninth team, the Orlando Pride, was forced to withdraw because of positive COVID-19 tests.
